The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-05-18

teacher referred to as ''Prisms, and soon
all were fairly at work upon the edibles
When Ben had finished her first course,
and was reaching for a liberal piece of
raisin cake, she said, solemnly:
"Girls, l have the most astonishing and
wildly interesting thing to tell you that
you ever heard. No novel could be
stranger or more thrilling! But 1 am so
tired Oh, how my back and neck did
achel And it seemed as if my feet would
come offw
And Ben put in large mouthful of
cake and relapsed into silence, which in
two seconds became unbearable to her
companions.
"Come, tellus!"
"Do let us hear itI'
"What can it bel"
''Has the housekeeper discharged the
COOKE" said Florence Healey, laughing.
Ben turned suddenly upon her.
''No; but Miss Lou Brown has dis
charged Professor Charles"
She turned back to get the effect of her
stunning announce on the roomfull of
girls, so she did not see the paleness that
overspread the beautiful face of her in
terlocutor, and laughed gleefully at the
chorus of exclamations that came from
the wondering girls.
''Nol Really How do you know"
Chow do 1 know2 l should think l
ought to know; heard it,"
Heard itl Ooh! You heard itm
Ben was composedly selecting a large
piece of preserved ginger from the jar,
which she combined with sponge cake
with evident satisfaction, and, rs her
mouth was full, she merely nodded i'm
pressivelyu
curiosity, but Florence Healey said, in a
low voice:
"Ben, if you have by accident heard
what was not intended for your ears, is it
honorable to tell it to any one2"
THAT is just what 1 am thinking
about" responded the tricksy sprite,
gravely. There was howl of disap-
pointment from ten of the mystic
Twelve" 'It would not be quite right
ordinarily"
Hope began to glimmer again.
But, you see, we are bound by ouI
oath to repose perfect confidence in each
other, are we notW
She looked inquiringly around.
''Of course we are. Solemnly bound
Indeed we are! Yes!" came an eager rusl
of voices.
"Still, mused the young lady, ehoos-
ing a chocolate cream with scupulou.
care, ''that may hold only upon matter,
pertaining strictly to ourselves"
ben, you are real mean, if you dom
tell us, after all this" protested Kitty
Glazier.
Florence Healey said nothing perhap.
because she saw that Ben fully intended
to relate her adventure after sufficiently
arousing the curiosity of her friends, anc
possibly because she herself had an inter
est IN the disclosure which overpowereo
her ideas of honorable reticence upon an,
others secret.
But said Ben, as a rebuttal, ''this i,
something which may seriously affect any
one of us"-the excitement grew intense
$50 shall waive my scruples and tel
it-but under perfect secrecy, mind
Well, began Ben, hoisting herself with
some difficulty upon the curved top of &
large trunk, "you see, when we came VI
from prayers l happened to think thai
itllit pltdhN L MOulo ~ lnNO lilN
fourth recitation room to get her music.
So, as | had for some time been intend.
ing to punish her for going back on me
to Professor Charles, in the philosophy
class, one day, Just slid in there in the
dark and crept in behind 'Skelly,' whC
hangs so sweetly by her skull in the small
cupboard"
"Oh, Ben! How could you? l could
not do it if it was to save my life," shud
dered Fan Kendall
"That's Just it," said Ben, bending ,
calm eve upon her; ''neither coulC
! SnealIy Palmer. She is afraid of hel
own shadow. So l meant to rattle the
bones of the late French lady, whose use
/ fulness continues after death as an ad
junct to the physiology class, just clicl
/ her toes together, you know, and moan
| How Sneaky Palmer would have run =
/ Ben beamed in enjoyment of what nigh
have been, but suddenly became grave
again. "Instead of which, when hearC
some one come in, and was just about t.
/ give a dismal groan, fortunately peepeC
/ through the curtains and saw Mis-
/ Brown. She came in and sat down, rest
/ ing her face on her hands. Then
thought l would come out and confess
my base intention, for Lou never scolds
/ YOU know
Dear Lou. She is more like siste
than a teacher"
Lou is only twenty-five mumureC
Florence Healey, from her place in thr
shadow of the bureau.
"Well, as l said, l was just coming
out, when in walked Professor Charles
And, girls, he did look too handsome fo
anythingl He never looked 50 elegant il
this world as he did tonight. His fac
was flushed, and-well, here was prett,
how-de-do! l could not know that thei
meeting was anything but an accident
and while hesitated to place myself il
such an awful light as to crawl out anC
explain things, he began to speak.
- i understood you, Lou he said
standing before her, that you wished L
see me here
q Yes, she answered in Il low voice
and saw, as she looked up at him, he
lips trembled. i Iwished to talk wit
you, Charles, before we 90 away for tn
vacation, about our relations TO eacl
| other =